The Therapeutic Role of Zinc as an Adjunct to Standard Therapy for Pneumonia in Comparison to Placebo

Objective: To compare the effect of Zinc Supplementation and placebo on Morbidity and Mortality in Children with Pneumonia Age 6 Months to 5 Years.

Methodology: This Randomized control trial was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics Unit-I, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore After consent, 150 children from 6 months to 5 years of age with pneumonia consistent with WHO ARI definition along with crepitations on auscultation were registered by non-probability purposive sampling and were randomized into treatment group (Group A) and placebo group (Group B). Seventy five children supplemented with zinc for 14 days while 75 children were supplemented with placebo. Outcome measure was duration of hospital stay compare the groups.

Results: The mean age of children in zinc therapy group was 3.01 years. While the mean age of children in placebo group was 2.85 years. In zinc therapy group, there were 48 (64.0%) male and 27(36.0%) female children. In placebo group, there were 48 (64.0%) male and 27(36.0%) female children.

In Zinc therapy group, 70 (93.3%) children were discharged from hospital within one week while in placebo group, 72 (96.0%) children were discharged from hospital within one week (P>0.05). In Zinc therapy group, 73 (97.3%) children were alive during the course of study while in placebo group, 55 (73.3%) children were alive during the course of study (P<0.05).

In Zinc therapy group, 16 (21.3%) children developed URTI while in placebo group, 30 (40.0%) children developed URTI (P<0.05). In Zinc therapy group, 8 (10.7%) children had recurrence of pneumonia while in placebo group, 52 (69.3%) children had recurrence of pneumonia (P<0.05) and showing that zinc therapy is better than placebo.

Conclusion: Thus the results of this study has shown that addition of zinc as adjunct to the conventional therapy for management of pneumonia is far more effective than placebo. Now in future we are able to recommend the use of zinc as an adjunct to standard therapy for pneumonia in children of